After defensive end Daniel Joseph’s lackluster performance at North Carolina State’s recent NFL pro day, the B.C. Lions may have a better chance of signing him in training camp in 2021 than they did in 2020.
The 6-foot-2, 261-pound native of Toronto ran the 40-yard dash in 5.08 seconds, with a crucial 10-yard split of 1.80 seconds. In addition to his 29-inch vertical and 9-foot broad jumps, Joseph ran the three-cone in 7.45 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.45 seconds. Due to a persistent pectoral issue, he refrained from taking part in the bench press.
How Good Is Daniel Joseph?
After finishing high school at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois, where he was a four-star recruit, Joseph committed to Penn State and appeared in 32 games over three years. Before going to NC State as a senior to improve his NFL potential, he had a productive career with the Nittany Lions, recording 29 total tackles, five sacks, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Joseph paid off the team’s bet by leading the Wolfpack in sacks (6.5), total tackles (37), and tackles for loss (10) in eight starts. Thanks to the NCAA’s COVID eligibility extension, he played his senior year twice, improving his stats by recording 46 tackles and nine tackles for loss, as well as five sacks.
After two successful seasons in the ACC, Joseph was thought to be a fringe NFL prospect who could be able to sign an undrafted free agent deal. His testing results, though, may discourage some organizations from signing him.
The Lions understood they were making a long-term investment when they selected Joseph with the fourth overall pick in 2021, but it appears as if B.C. may be in a position to receive its prize after waiting only one season.
David Menard and Mathieu Betts, two top-tier Canadian defensive ends, are already part of a reformed defensive line for B.C. With his 36-inch arms, Joseph has the potential to cause havoc on the interior, but he could also be a dangerous third option.